Pivotally articulated container with crossed folds

ABSTRACT

A shipping and display container formed from a one-piece sheet blank and provided with a pair of crossed fold lines dividing the container into four articulated sections. Pivotal hinged movement about either fold line provides ready access to panels of retained articles for price marking purposes.

' United States Patent Taub [45] Nov. 4, 1975 [54] PIVOTALLY ARTICULATED CONTAINER 2,324,436 7/1943 Synder 206/4511 WITH CROSSED FOLDS 2,592,678 4/1952 Fuerst 206/45.ll

2,671,584 3/1954 Taylor, .lr. 206/4514 X Inventor: Ronald R Taub, fllghland Park, 2,706,037 4/1955 Felgelman 206/45.1l 2,707,587 5/1955 Wittstein 229/34 HW [731 Asslgnee' Taub Fam'ly Trust 2,997,222 8/1961 Sperry 206/45.18 x [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1974 3,305,078 2/1967 Ferrera 206/44 R 21 Appl. No.: 534,142

Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Related Appllcatlon Data Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 307,449, Nov. 17, Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael G. Berkman 1972, Pat. No. 3,872,965.

[52] US. Cl. 206/44; 206/45.1l; 206/4518 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/48; B65D 81/36 58 Field of Search 206/44, 45.11, 45.18 45.21 ShPPmg and dsplay n a 206/45 23 229/15 16 D 23 R R piece sheet blank and provided with a pair of crossed 34 W i R 2 B 1 SIDB fold lines dividing the container into four articulated sections. Pivotal hinged movement about either fold [56] References Cited line provides ready access to panels of retained arti- UNITED STATES PATENTS cles for price marking purposes.

2,315,999 4/1943 Holm 206/45.ll 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 PIVO'IALLY ARTICULATEDCONTAINER-WITH cRossEn rows BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ping merchandise to retail stores. More particularly, 1

this invention is directed to a container having a floor formed with a pair of crossed or intersecting fold lines dividing the floor into four distinct articulated sections. Merchandise containers formed. with fold lines are known in the prior art, but each of these prior art structures suffers from the disadvantage of providing only limited access to panels of articles held therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a container for shipping and storing merchandise in which price-marking indicia can be applied quickly to price panels of package units arranged in multiple layers or rows, without removing the packages from the container and without tearing or cutting the container to provide access. The container of the present invention is preformed in sections adapted to be pivotally hinged about either of two crossing fold lines, thus providing ready access either to end panels or side panels of packages on opposed sides of the respective fold lines.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a container which allows ready access to aip'lurality oflayers or rows of packages, and which is ada'pta ble to a great variety of sizes, arrangements and numbers of packages. l

Another feature of the invention is that it is manufactured from a one-piece sheet blank without staples or glue. The preferred embodiment is inexpensive since it can be constructed from low-cost materials such as cardboard, and because no tear strips or tapes are needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container in which retained articles can be displayed at the point of purchase.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following specification considered in conjunction with the drawings. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the container of the invention, in which the container is pivotally hinged about a first fold line extending between the side walls;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, with opposed hinge sections disposed to one another at an acute angle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, in which the container is pivotally hinged about a second fold line extending between the end walls;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the container, with dotted lines indicating fold lines;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4, taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4, taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is an enlargement of the encircled area of FIG. 6; and i FIG. 7 isa plan view of the planar blank used in producing the container of FIGS. 1-6, with dotted lines indicating fold .lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is shownja container in the shape of a rectangular carton 11 having a floor l2, end walls l3 and 14, and a pair of side" walls 15 and 16. A first fold line 17 extends laterally across the floor between the side walls 15, 16 and a second fold line 18 extends longitudinally across the floor between ,the end walls 13, 14 to divide the container intofour. distinct sections or compartments. Each side wall is divided into two separate panels a generally vertical slit 21 extending from an upper edge 22 to a base terminal. 23 of the wall, the terminal 23 corresponding to a lateral limit of the first fold line 17. Each end wall is also divided into two separate panels by a generally vertical slit 24 extending from an upper edge 25 to a base terminal 26 of the wall, the terminal 26 corresponding to a longitudinal terminus of thesecond fold line 18.

Flanges ,27 are integrally formed with and generally coextensive with each panel of the side walls l5, 16. The flanges. 27, which are joined to the side walls along fold lines 22 defining upper or outer edges of the side walls, are hinged inwardly to overlie the side walls 15, 16 and to form slots 28 coextensive with each flange 27. A downwardly projecting tab or tab means 29 projects from a free edge of each flange 27. Slits 30 are cut into lateral edges of the floor 12 at positions corresponding to the tabs 29. The flanges 27 are locked in place by intercoupling corresponding tabs 29 and slits 30.

The end walls 13, 14 are each formed integrally with a pair of flaps 25 hinged along spaced fold lines to the end walls at their lateral limits. The flaps 35 are adapted to fit within the slots 28 formed between panels of the side walls 15, 16 and their overlying flanges 27.

The container is preferably constructed from a onepiece blank, as shown in FIG. 7. The preferred embodiment illustrated is made from sheet cardboard.

The intended use of the container is best understood upon reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The carton 11 is provided with a cover (not illustrated) in order to protect and secure merchandise packages therewithin during shipment and storage. When the outer wrapping is removed it is generally desired to apply price-markings to panels of the packages. When the carton 11 is pivoted about its first or laterally extending fold line 17 as shown in FIG. 1, one set of package panels is exposed to view. An additional set of package panels is exposed when the carton 11 is pivotally hinged about its second or longitudinally extending fold line 18, as shown in FIG. 3. By providing arcuate hinging in two different directions, the container affords access to price-marking panels of merchandise packages regardless of whether these package panels are exposed in the mode shown in FIG. 1 or that shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, price marking indicia can be applied to all package units without removing them from the container, regardless of whether the panels to be marked face the first fold line 17 or the second fold line 18. Additional fold lines (not shown) parallel to the first and second 3 fold lines l7, 18 are provided when needed to provide even greater access to package panels.

The foregoing description of the invention is with reference to one preferred embodiment. The invention is not to be limited to all of the details shown in this de scription, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shipping and display container adapted to hold a multiplicity of packages in an organized array, said container comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed end walls, and a uniplanar floor joined to said side walls and said end walls, the improvement wherein:

a. said floor is formed with a first fold line extending laterally thereacross between said side walls and a second fold line extending longitudinally thereacross between said end walls to provide four floorjoined, pivotally articulated sections connected along the fold lines in said floor;

b. said side walls are formed with opposed, generally vertically directed slits extending from upper edges of respective said side walls downwardly to said floor at said first fold line to divide each of said side walls into two distinct panels, whereby said floor is adapted for unrestricted hinged arcuate movement downwardly about said first fold line; and

c. said end walls are formed with opposed, generally vertically directed slits extending from upper edges of respective said end walls downwardly to said floor at said second fold line to divide each of said end walls into two distinct panels, whereby said floor is also adapted for unrestricted hinged arcuate movement downwardlyabout said second fold line;

each said sections being adapted to hold a row of articles extending thereacross, whereby upon pivotal shifting of said sections about either of said first 4 and second fold lines in said floor to open said slits in said walls, panels of any articles contained in respective said sections are exposed and rendered readily accessible for application of price marking I indicia thereto. 2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid container is formed from a uniplanar. one-piece blank.

3. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein a. each said side walls includes a pair of flanges hinged thereto along a fold line defining an up wardlyfacing upper edge thereof, each said flanges extending downwardly of said upper edge and overlying each said side walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective said side walls, define therebetween a slot coextensive with said flanges;

b. said container further comprises means securing said flanges in place; and

c. each said end wallsincludes a pair of flaps hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining lateral limits thereof;

each one of said pair of flaps extending generally nor- 7 7 mal to said end walls to parallel said side walls and to project into a corresponding said slot, thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls, and said side walls into a stable, unitary structure.

4. The container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said to lock the flanges in place.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3. 917, 056 Dated November LI. 1975 Inventor(s) Ronald H. Taub It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column A, line 15, delete the comma.

Signed and Sealed this ninth Day of March1976 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ommissiomr nfPatents and Trademarks 

1. In a shipping and display container adapted to hold a multiplicity of packages in an organized array, said contaIner comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed end walls, and a uniplanar floor joined to said side walls and said end walls, the improvement wherein: a. said floor is formed with a first fold line extending laterally thereacross between said side walls and a second fold line extending longitudinally thereacross between said end walls to provide four floor-joined, pivotally articulated sections connected along the fold lines in said floor; b. said side walls are formed with opposed, generally vertically directed slits extending from upper edges of respective said side walls downwardly to said floor at said first fold line to divide each of said side walls into two distinct panels, whereby said floor is adapted for unrestricted hinged arcuate movement downwardly about said first fold line; and c. said end walls are formed with opposed, generally vertically directed slits extending from upper edges of respective said end walls downwardly to said floor at said second fold line to divide each of said end walls into two distinct panels, whereby said floor is also adapted for unrestricted hinged arcuate movement downwardly about said second fold line; each said sections being adapted to hold a row of articles extending thereacross, whereby upon pivotal shifting of said sections about either of said first and second fold lines in said floor to open said slits in said walls, panels of any articles contained in respective said sections are exposed and rendered readily accessible for application of price marking indicia thereto.
 2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed from a uniplanar, one-piece blank.
 3. The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein a. each said side walls includes a pair of flanges hinged thereto along a fold line defining an upwardly facing upper edge thereof, each said flanges extending downwardly of said upper edge and overlying each said side walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective said side walls, define therebetween a slot coextensive with said flanges; b. said container further comprises means securing said flanges in place; and c. each said end walls includes a pair of flaps hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining lateral limits thereof; each one of said pair of flaps extending generally normal to said end walls to parallel said side walls and to project into a corresponding said slot, thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls, and said side walls into a stable, unitary structure.
 4. The container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means securing each one of said pair of flanges in place comprise slits formed in said floor adjacent lateral limits thereof and paralleling lateral edges of said floor, and further comprising downwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each one of said pair of flanges at downwardly directed free ends thereof, each said tab means projecting into and seating within a corresponding said slit in said floor to lock the flanges in place. 